On-Court Whining and Lack of Effort Won’t Help Miami Heat

By Richard Nurse

Marc Serota-Getty Images

At some point during the season, the MiamiHeat are going to have to deal with two problems that have plagued them for the entire four-year existence of the Big Three — besides rebounding and slow starts. However, cleaning up both issues could help fix everything that’s been detrimental.

Miami’s first problem is their constant complaining. Too often do we see everyone, from their stars to the ninth man in the rotation, whining about non-calls as if they aren’t supposed to be touched. You see it with Dwyane Wade, LeBronJames and most recently Chris Bosh.

It begins with a fling of the arms, a roll of the neck and time spent staring at the crowd and ref. Then before you know it the Heat defense is at a disadvantage because guys are trotting back like two-year-olds stomping out a tantrum — which leaves the team susceptible to threes.

It’s like they believe that it’s a privilege to be on the court with them, so they should never be breathed on. This is part of the reason why Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah called them “Hollywood” and Charles Barkley takes every chance possible to toss criticism their way.

But their trend is getting so bad that commentators are beginning to point it out during nationally televised broadcasts — while local papers are acknowledging their lack of overall effort:

“There also have been times in recent games where the Heat have been operating with a sense of entitlement, that they don’t necessarily need to outwork the opposition. And you know what’s happening? The Heat are getting outworked.” (South Florida Sun-Sentinel)

That lack of passion has been a major reason why shorthanded teams, like the BrooklynNets and Bulls, have taken to upsetting the Heat — because, in the end, maximum effort will always overtake skill when skill decides to take days off.

If they addressed that, there wouldn’t have been a loss on Sunday night. And there would have been no Ray Allen watching the ball bounce as if he was sure last night’s last play was about to trickle out of bounds. There also wouldn’t have been three or four players standing around while a Nets guard swooped in to snatch a rebound that they let fall between them.

It’s time for Miami to get back to ignoring the noise — including their own — and figure out how to play championship basketball.

Richard Nurse is a columnist for RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter@blackirishpror add him to your network on Google.